NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 15, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, picked up its second straight win with a 6-3 triumph over Merrimack College, ranked ninth in the region, in Northeast-10 Conference women's tennis action at North Andover High School this afternoon.

Seniors Analise Kump (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) and Kirsti Toegemann (Narragansett, Rhode Island) as well as sophomore Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) led Stonehill to the victory in a rematch of last year's NE-10 Championship match that the Skyhawks won by posting singles and doubles wins this afternoon. Kump and Barbetta battled to a 9-8 (7-5) triumph at No. 2 doubles that clinched a 2-1 Skyhawks edge after doubles play. Kump followed that up with a back and forth 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 victory at No. 2 singles against Merrimack senior Chealsey Giatrelis (Centerville, Massachusetts/Barnstable). Barbetta added a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles against sophomore Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Massachusetts/Masconomet) to run her singles record to 4-0 this season.

Junior Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) led Merrimack with points at No. 1 singles and doubles. She and freshman Mana Seifaei (North York, Ontario/East Haig) earned the Warriors lone doubles point with an 8-3 win. Messina, ranked 12th in the ITA East Regional singles rankings, added a 6-1, 6-1 win over Stonehill senior Bailey Paradiso (Birmingham, Michigan/Marian). Seifaei also picked up a singles point when Stonehill junior Lorraine Smith (Littleton, Colorado/D'Evelyn) retired while leading 4-1 in the first set.

Stonehill (3-1, 2-1 NE-10) returns to the courts on Friday when it visits Chestnut Hill College, ranked fifth in the region, for a non-conference matchup at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Friday, September 25, to host Adelphi University, ranked eighth in the region, for their Purple & White match at Charles Watt Tennis Courts at 3 p.m. Merrimack (4-2, 3-2 NE-10) competes at the ITA Division II East Regional this weekend.

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